Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
My-oh-my, how time flies! Can you believe another year has passed us by? The Mrs. and I were so busy, this one seemed to go by especially fast for us. I have no complaints though. Didn’t even mind turning 40. Life is good.
Here are the highlights of our 2013
- We sold our home in our hated neighborhood.
- We found a new home in a place much more agreeable.
- Our portfolio rocketed from $586,000 to $870,000.
- Our older daughter started the first grade.
- Our travels took us to Memphis (Tennessee), Madison (Wisconsin), Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Update on My Goals
Last January, I spelled out some goals for myself. Here is how I did:
Successes
- Get portfolio up to $672,750: This goal accomplished in spectacular fashion! We ended the year at almost $870,000. What a great year for everyone in the stock market and the S&P 500 climbed 30%.
- Double my cash: We started the year with $6,500 and ended the year at $50,000 as a result of proceeds from our home sale.
- Blog 3x/week: We finished the year with 192 posts.
- Move: Done!
Failures
Will the bull return in 2014 or will he show us his backside? Keep track of all spending: We failed in spectacular fashion. Ever since our move, life has been chaos and we just lost track.
- Save $2,000/month: Nope. Home construction has consumed (and continues to consume) all income. However, we haven’t had to dip into savings to pay for anything yet.
- Lower my exposure to stocks: We failed again here. We tried to buy several rental homes, but our local housing market is super hot, so we were outbid each and every time.
- Invest $10,000 in peer lending: Nope. 2013 is the year peer Lending Club and Prosper went mainstream. Good loans are much more difficult to find these days. I am less bullish on this investment, although the number of notes have picked up lately.
- Purchase a rental property: Nope.
- Hike five 14ers: Nope. I am in decent shape, but failed here.
Random Blog Facts
- My most popular post was Death by Retirement with 17,000 views.
- I finished the year with 250,000 views.
- 17 bloggers have participated in my 10 Questions series. 4 have since bit the dust.
- I finished the year with 192 posts.
What does Mr. Market have in store for us in 2014?
I have no idea! Neither does anyone else. Barry Ritholtz, a pretty awesome blogger about all matters financial, sums it up best here.
What do I want to write about in 2014?
Still ugly. Investing: I’ve dropped hints about my portfolio, but never written about it. I’ve done well with investments, but have come to the conclusion that my strategy is dangerous and I don’t want to give anyone bad ideas. Nonetheless, I think that I’ve finally figured out how to present it all.
- Fixing up homes for fun and profit: Before kids, Mrs. 1500 and I would fix up houses and resell them. Notice that I’m not using the word “flip.” That word has all kinds of connotations. What we did was much different than the image that comes into most people’s minds when they hear that word.
- Home construction: Our home is still ugly, but not for much longer. I’ll soon be finishing off an addition as well as gutting the existing bathroom and kitchen. I’m going to document it all right here in gory detail. (It really is gory, I hurt myself constantly!)
- 12 Challenges: I don’t really like making New Year’s resolutions, but I do like to challenge myself. The Mrs. and I will do a different challenge every month and I hope you join along.
Beware, here comes the mushy part
I am writing this on January 1st, 2014. My very first post was exactly one year ago. Thinking back, I didn’t really have any idea where I wanted to take this little blog project. I just knew that I enjoyed writing and I wanted to hold myself publicly accountable to my goal.
Lately, I’ve done a lot of thinking about being a blogger. There are benefits and there are drawbacks. Regarding the latter, blogging is a huge time commitment. I am already extremely busy with a job, children and home construction. I don’t want to half-ass any of these things, but blogging definitely sets me back.
However, I feel the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The main benefit is connecting with so many great people. In my non-blogger life, it isn’t easy to find people who share my goals or even understand basic financial concepts (looking at you young cousins whose eyes glaze over when I start singing the praises of compound interest). By far, the best part is connecting with so many great people who share similar goals and share their ideas. I have learned so much in the last 12 months.
Finally, I’ve had the honor of meeting a number of you in person. What really stands out about these meetings is how great everyone has been. I’m a skeptic, so I’m always worried that people will disappoint when I meet them in person. However, everyone has been just great. I look forward to meeting more of you in the new year.
Thank you everyone and a prosperous New Year to all!
Join the 10s who have signed up already!
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*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.
1500,
Happy New Year to you. Congrats on meeting a number of your goals and failing on some too (failure can be good, right?). I’ve enjoyed reading your stuff and look forward to more. Best of luck in the new year.
-RBD
Retire Before Dad recently posted…Retire Before Dad 2014 Financial Goals
Thank you Retire Before Dad!
Failure is important. When you succeed, you don’t really learn anything. However, there is usually a good lesson in failure.
What a year! Congrats on reaching your 1-year blog-oversary, too! The attrition rate for blogs is pretty freaking high (as you saw with your series), so sticking with it despite all the craziness of outside life is no small feat.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for another exciting year in 2014 for us all. =)
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted…PoP Income Statement – December 2013
Yes, I’ve noticed that a lot of blogs jump out of the gates with high hopes, but then are gone a few short months later. Some of them were very good too.
if 2014 was 1/3 as good as 2013, I’d be very happy!
What an awesome year. Especially the portfolio value, that’s amazing. Best of luck in 2014! My wife and I are hoping to pick up at least one rental property and if the markets permit 2 or 3. We’ll see how it goes, but it should be an interesting ride nonetheless.
JC @ Passive-Income-Pursuit recently posted…Blog Year in Review: 2013
Wow, you have the same landlord dreams as us. If we had 2 or 3 rentals, we’d be done working.
What a great year. I cannot see the ugly house finished, and see what kind of swan you turned it into.
I am going to try to play along with your challenges – though I am doing sugar instead of alcohol for January, as per Mrs 1500 suggestion.
“I cannot see the ugly house finished…” That makes two of us! Uglyhouse is a time and money sink right now!
I’m glad you’re coming with us on the challenges!
A great year for the 1500 household! I am humbled by your portfolio, and the fantastic growth you realized. You’re giving us a great target to shoot for.
Sorry we couldn’t meet up in Phoenix when you visited. Some other time!
Done by Forty recently posted…December Net Worth Update
Arizona was a lot of fun! We went and saw the lights in downtown Glendale (I think). We also visited Saguaro National Park which was beautiful. We’ll be back for a visit (so many things we didn’t do), so stay tuned!
Happy New Year and Congrats on your blogoversary! Looks like you did great your first year. I agree with you on the benefits of blogging. I look forward to reading about your home construction projects.
Raquel@Practical Cents recently posted…Lessons Learned in 2013
Thanks Raquel and Happy New Year. The first year had been awesome!
Looks like you have done a lot of home related tasks yourself. The fun is ongoing when you own a home!
I hit 5 14ers in 2013. I did the Tour d’Abyss (Evans, Bierstadt and Spalding – a 13er), Kelso’s ridge to Torreys and then over to Grays and the North Face of Long’s. Most cases I am back home by noon or so. I’m always game to go hiking.
Elory recently posted…SE Asia Trip I – Cambodia
Longs, whoah! I’ve seen pictures and some parts of that are pretty freaky. Slip off and kiss your butt good bye.
I actually look down my street and see Longs every day though. One of these days, I’ll wake up and do it.
I’m not familiar with some of the others you mention, but I’m going to look them up.
I’ve done Princeton once and Quadary a bunch of times.
I stare at Grays and Longs from my office window 🙂
I’m going to try and ski Quandry this winter and I’ll put a bunch of the collegiates on my radar for this summer. I’ll also do Kelso’s ridge a bunch and Bierstadt is always good for a little post work ascent.
Elroy recently posted…SE Asia Trip I – Cambodia
Wow, almost 25% of the 10 question guest posters have bit the dust. I may have just given my blog a kiss of death, lol. I haven’t had too much issue with getting notes on Lending Club though. They seemed to have picked up a bit. Of course, I’m only putting $100-$200 in at a time so it’s pretty easy to only have to look for 4-8 notes.
Micro recently posted…What are your go to cold remedies
Happy New Year! I’m glad I discovered your blog in 2013 (thanks to Mrs. 1500 commenting on mine), and was introduced to the world of personal finance bloggers. It really is nice and helpful finding like-minded people, even if only online.
Jen @ Jen Spends recently posted…Easier holiday meals with Flatout bread, plus French Toast Roll-up Recipe
Thanks Jen for the kind comments! Hope 2014 is happy and prosperous for you.
Happy New Year 1500s! You two have really made the most of 2013. I’m glad you’re continuing to blog and look forward to the inventing segments.
I am even happier in my 40s than I was in my 30s. I hope every decade just keeps getting better.
Tammy R recently posted…Preserving Our Health
Thanks Tammy!
You know, I’m probably healthier and happier now that I’m 40 as well. I’m not even sure why?!? I have to do some thinking on this…
Congratulations on a successful 2013. You’re right blogging takes a lot of effort but the people are great. When you’re in my backyard I can let you know of all the great food places.
charles@gettingarichlife recently posted…2013 Net Worth Review-A Look At My Investments
Thanks Charles and see you in 2014!
Congrats on blogging for a year! Yours is always fresh and always at the top of my must read list. Good luck with the home construction in 2014. I love those types of posts because they mingle finance and building design, two of my great loves.
Cash Rebel recently posted…The truth about lifestyle inflation
Thanks Cash Rebel for the kind comments! I love architecture/design as well. In another life, perhaps I would have been an architect.
I really hope I see as much blog growth as you have in one year! (as well as financial growth… AMAZING!)
Michelle @fitisthenewpoor recently posted…Goodbye December and Hello January Goals
Nice work in 2013 1500s!
Especially with the portfolio growth, I look forward to reading about what it is comprised of. All the best for 2014.
Loving the Ferris Bueller quote by the way, that is one of my faves 🙂
theFIREstarter recently posted…2014 Aspirations